The Bigger Picture
People tend to get too hung up over the unfortunate things that happen in this life. In their narrow-sighted view, this life is all there is for it is all they can see. They live for the now. For them, there is no tomorrow, no eternity. Death is an abrupt end to all they know. They either don't have the knowledge or the faith to see past the looming darkness and into the eternities. Due to this, they are filled with sorrow whenever anything happens they don't like. They grieve because they assume either God is punishing them, or that there is no God, because why would God let anything like that happen? Why would he let people have hardships? Why are there poor? Why do people suffer? Why do people die? Why mortality? Why are people born, just to die? Why can't people live forever?
All questions have answers, but we must be willing to accept them, even if we don't fully understand them. This is called faith.
All questions have answers, but we must be willing to accept them, even if we don't fully understand them. This is called faith.
God is our Heavenly Father
God is the Father of our Spirits. He created a Plan for His children. This Plan is often referred to as the Plan of Salvation, or the Plan of Happiness. In this plan he created an earth. Methods used for its creation are not yet fully understood, but science is continually learning more about how the entire universe was put in its current state. Upon this earth, God would give his spirit children physical bodies. (Instead of humans having a spiritual experience, it might be better said that we are spirits having a human experience.) All of this was created for one reason.
Our Education
So, what exactly is the purpose behind this life?
The answer to this seemingly impossible to reconcile question is surprisingly simple. This life is a means to an end. A temporary state. It is not the reason we exist. We do not exist for this life, this life exists for us. God didn't create us to fill this world, he created the world so that we could fill it. This earth life, from birth till death, is but a journey of learning. A practical exam. We came here to learn, to grow, to become more like our Father in heaven. We are here to learn to about the physical world. We are here to learn math and science, economics and philosophy, art and music, song and dance, creativity and leadership. We are here to learn to love each other, to learn to be responsible, to be wise, to be happy, to have self-control, to have patience, to have humility, to have charity, to endure trials, to become more like God. We are here for a test drive, and those that pass will get greater opportunities in the future. We live this life to prepare for the next.
But why all the education? Why are we here to learn? What is the reason? What is the purpose of it all?
The answer to this seemingly impossible to reconcile question is surprisingly simple. This life is a means to an end. A temporary state. It is not the reason we exist. We do not exist for this life, this life exists for us. God didn't create us to fill this world, he created the world so that we could fill it. This earth life, from birth till death, is but a journey of learning. A practical exam. We came here to learn, to grow, to become more like our Father in heaven. We are here to learn to about the physical world. We are here to learn math and science, economics and philosophy, art and music, song and dance, creativity and leadership. We are here to learn to love each other, to learn to be responsible, to be wise, to be happy, to have self-control, to have patience, to have humility, to have charity, to endure trials, to become more like God. We are here for a test drive, and those that pass will get greater opportunities in the future. We live this life to prepare for the next.
- Nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead. Alma 12:24
- For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. Alma 34:32
- And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.
Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;
Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms--
That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you. D&C 88:77-80
But why all the education? Why are we here to learn? What is the reason? What is the purpose of it all?
Love is the Reason
Like any good parent, God loves His children and wants the best for them. He wants them to grow, to become the best that they can be. He wants them to find a fullness of joy, of happiness. Not just some fleeting feeling, but an everlasting condition of the heart that breaks the bounds of eternity.
From these two scriptures we learn that there are three purposes of God's Plan for us. This life is to help us towards:
- For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Moses 1:39
- But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. 2 Ne 2:24-25
From these two scriptures we learn that there are three purposes of God's Plan for us. This life is to help us towards:
- Immortality
- Eternal Life
- Joy
Immortality
What is immortality? Immortality literally means to be in a state where there is no death, where one can't die. Everyone on this earth is mortal, they will die. Their spirits will once again be separate from their physical bodies. After death comes the resurrection, which once again fuses physical body with spirit. This is a more permanent union referred to as immortality.
- So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
- And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 49-55
Eternal Life
- But blessed are they who are faithful and endure, whether in life or in death, for they shall inherit eternal life. D&C 50:5
Joy
The final and most important goal of life. Can it be defined? Can we truly understand it without having it? Probably not, and that is why God guides us with His Holy Spirit, with inspiration, with commandments, prophets, and scriptures. The only way to understand it is to obtain it. How do we obtain it? Unconditionally loving each other.